The Rosewood Community Council met Thursday November 19. Johnathan Chambers and Jerry Thompson, both from the city staff, offered some clarity to an ongoing issue of encroachment in the Rosewood Community. Encroachment is when there is a violation to the right of way in the area just outside of property owned by a resident of the city. The right of way, as defined by the city, is the area between property lines from one resident to his or her neighbor across the street.

If a violation call or a blue notice is given out due to this violation, the city will work with the resident in violation to help resolve the issue.

• First, the resident must determine if they want to remove the structure or get a permit for the structure that is in the violation.

• The resident will be given a deadline to resolve this issue.

• If there are circumstances that the issue can not be resolved by the deadline, the zoning office can be contacted, and if the circumstances are seen as reasonable extensions can be given.

• For a resident who chooses to get a permit for the structure that is in violation, he will need to offer the address of residence, a plat indicating the change that the resident wishes to make, and the tax map number to the zoning department.

• The legal department for zoning will get this information to all of the city agencies as well as a draft summary to city council.

• If city council approves the draft summary, then the violation will be dropped. The city asks that if any residents decide to go this route that they get a $600,000 insurance policy; this can be added to the current homeowner’s policy. There was no definite amount as to how much it will increase the homeowner’s bill.